That was the message Tuesday from Senate Republican leaders and Democratic aides who said there is a growing likelihood that non-essential parts of the federal government remain shuttered for more than two weeks until lawmakers agree on how to increase the debt ceiling.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) and one of his top lieutenants, Sen. John Thune (R., S.D.), both said Tuesday that while they would like to agree on a short-term funding measure before pivoting to the debt ceiling, they believed that the shutdown could very well last until the government is faced with raising or suspending the debt ceiling later this month.

Two top Senate Democratic aides also said they thought the two issues would end up dovetailing together, saying that from their perspective the next move was up to House Republicans. Democrats are unlikely to negotiate with Republicans over a short-term government funding bill, so the delay will continue until House Republicans agree to take up a Senate-passed six-week funding bill, the aides said. Read More »

WASHINGTON–Top Senate Republican leaders avoided endorsing explicitly House Speaker John Boehner‘s deficit proposal on Tuesday, as the White House and congressional Democrats continued to insist any deal will have to call for revenue levels Republicans have said they can’t accept.

With negotiations occurring publicly and privately between the White House and Congress, both parties sparred over proposals to avoid the so-called fiscal cliff offered by the White House and House Republicans. The latter offer, released Monday, was quickly dismissed by Democrats and received a tepid response by Senate Republican leaders.

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Washington Wire is one of the oldest standing features in American journalism. Since the Wire launched on Sept. 20, 1940, the Journal has offered readers an informal look at the capital. Now online, the Wire provides a succession of glimpses at what’s happening behind hot stories and warnings of what to watch for in the days ahead. The Wire is led by Reid J. Epstein, with contributions from the rest of the bureau. Washington Wire now also includes Think Tank, our home for outside analysis from policy and political thinkers.